The Whole Clock

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-22

“Did you already fix that one?” asked Elias, pointing at a large clock standing on the counter. He always enjoyed visiting Uncle Ben’s shop—especially when his uncle was working on a clock. “That one seems to be ticking all right,” Elias added.

Uncle Ben laughed. “Yes, but that’s all it’s doing.”

Elias looked at the clock more closely. “Oh—it doesn’t have any hands on it,” he remarked, feeling foolish for not having noticed that.

“No, it doesn’t,” said Uncle Ben. “So even though the clock is ticking, it isn’t doing its job and giving the correct time, is it?”

“Not without the hands it isn’t,” Elias agreed. “What happened to them?”

“I have them right here, and I’ll put them back on. But first I want to use this clock as an illustration when I teach my Sunday school class tomorrow.”

Elias grinned, remembering when his uncle had been his Sunday school teacher. “So you still use clocks as illustrations. What does this one illustrate?”

“Well, the inside of a clock has lots of different parts, and each one is needed,” replied Uncle Ben. “But you can have all those inside parts clean and running well, and the clock still doesn’t give you the time. Or…” Uncle Ben held up the clock hands. “You can pick up the hands or face of the clock and look at them closely, but you won’t learn the time of day that way either. To tell time, all the parts have to work together.”

Elias grinned. “I think I already know where you’re going with this.”

Uncle Ben nodded. “All the parts of a clock are important. None can do the job alone—and it’s the same for the church too.”

“Yep. I thought you’d say that. Pastors, Sunday school teachers, janitors, musicians, nursery workers—all are needed for the church to function.”

“Yes, but it’s not only those who do things to help with church services,” said Uncle Ben. “It’s all of us! In the Bible, the church is called the body of Christ, and Jesus has given each of us a part in showing His love to others, both at church and everywhere else. When we work together with other Christians, we show the world who He is.” • Ruth I. Jay

How About You?

Have you ever thought that your part in the body of Christ—the church—is not that important? It is. Just like it takes many parts to make a clock work, it takes many people to do the work Jesus has given us of building His kingdom and showing His love to others. Do your part faithfully, working together with other Christians. Each one of you is needed, and each one is important.

Today’s Key Verse:
1 Corinthians 12:27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Work together with others